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His mouth was set in a tight line, his jaw tightly clenched as he stood at the kitchen counter packing a picnic basket with sandwiches, chips, sodas and an assortment of fruits.
Big shock, Cassidy thought. Once again she’d earned her father’s disapproval. It seemed there was nothing she could do to please him. On the other hand, all it took to please her mother was a simple act of courage.
Cassidy jumped up from her chair and placed her arms around her mother, squeezing her tightly as she said, “Daddy’s right, Mama. I’m going to the bazaar.”
Maylene clapped her hands together. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to go if you’re not ready.”
She shrugged. “I’ll probably never be completely ready. But, I’m a big girl. I can’t hide out here forever.”
Like it or not, she would soon be facing her deepest, darkest fear.
Lord, please stand by my side as I come face-to-face with my past.
Cassidy wondered if God might be sick and tired of listening to her prayers. After all, there were starving children all over the world and soldiers who stood in harm’s way. Did God have time to worry about her past indiscretions? Did He still care about her?
God loves you. Cassidy repeated the affirmation in her head, drawing strength from the knowledge that God did indeed love her. That knowledge had been her one constant over the past few years. Through every step of her journey, she’d always known God was by her side. She knew not every prayer was answered, but He was still there listening.
Eight years ago she’d fled town with her tail between her legs. Those days were over. She was no longer a frightened eighteen-year-old lacking courage and faith. She was a grown woman who’d matured in her faith and who wanted to make amends for the past. But in doing so she would have to face the people she’d hurt the most.
Tate. The very thought of him caused goosebumps to pop up on her arms. There was so much she wanted to tell him, so many words she’d stored up inside her over the past eight years. Judging by the way he’d hightailed it away from her parents’ house, Tate would sooner wrangle a rattlesnake than spend time alone with her again. But she wasn’t going to give up. She would go down fighting if it meant she could bridge the distance between them. Even if he continued to resent her until the day he died, she was going to try her best to make amends.
It’s never too late. The mantra played over and over in her mind, bolstering her confidence and providing her with inspiration. Her pastor in Phoenix had given her those encouraging words when she’d shared her past with him and confided her desire to make amends. It was the first time since the accident she’d dared to dream of forgiveness. And she still dreamed of it, even though she wasn’t certain she deserved it.
* * *
Cassidy couldn’t ignore the stares in her direction. They were too blatant and intrusive. Glares. Whispers. Pastor’s daughter. Head shaking. Angry words being uttered just loud enough so she could hear them. Heat rose to her face as she heard the word brazen accompanied by a nasty glare in her direction. People who lived in small towns like West Falls never forgot scandals.
As much as she wanted to believe that she was a stronger person than the one who’d fled this town, all she wanted to do at the moment was run away. The only thing stopping her was her promise to Mama—and the small smidgen of pride she had left. She blinked back the tears and took a deep breath.
When she looked up Tate was standing there towering over her, his blue eyes filled with concern. She had to blink several times to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. Nope, she wasn’t hallucinating. He was still standing there with a questioning look on his face, his brows furrowed together.
The man was seriously good looking. More good looking than a man had a right to be. No man had ever looked better in a cowboy hat and jeans, she reckoned.
Tate Lynch had always been handsome. It had been the main reason she’d nurtured a mad crush on him all through middle school and junior high. That, and the kindness that flowed through him like water. Although he’d treated her with deference due to her status as his little sister’s best friend, Cassidy had longed to see a glimmer of interest in his eyes. And then a funny thing had happened the summer before her sophomore year in high school. She’d grown four inches, the baby fat had turned to womanly curves and her acne had cleared up, leaving her with a flawless complexion. Tate had taken notice of the new and improved Cassidy and asked her out. They had dated all through high school, becoming engaged soon after she’d graduated.
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sp; “Cassidy, are you all right?” Tate asked, the tenderness in his voice warming her insides.
“I’m fine,” she answered with a shaky smile, a bit unnerved about Tate’s close proximity. His nearness made her wish for things she knew she could never have.
He scowled, his eyes raking over her face. “You don’t look fine.” He glanced around and made eye contact with a few of the townsfolk who had been eyeballing her. A fierce look was etched on his face as he drew himself up to his full height and crossed his arms across his chest. He seemed poised for battle. Most of them scampered away as soon as Tate glared in their direction. With a satisfied expression, he swung back around to face Cassidy.
“Were they bothering you?” Tate’s eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was set in a grim line. Turbulent emotions swirled in his eyes.
“I think they were just trying to make me feel unwelcome,” she said with a shaky laugh. “Mission accomplished.”
His expression darkened. “They don’t have the right to persecute you. Or heckle you,” he growled. “That’s crossing the line.”
Cassidy glanced around at the crowd of people milling around the fairgrounds. “It doesn’t surprise me. West Falls is a small town. They still haven’t forgiven me. And I can’t say I blame them. Pastors’ daughters aren’t expected to fall from grace.”
Tate raised an eyebrow. He kept quiet, seemingly waiting for her to explain herself.
“What I did was wrong. The accident...at least I can say it was an accident. But running off, leaving West Falls like that, it was a horrible thing to do.”
Surprise flashed in Tate’s eyes, and for a moment he seemed speechless.
He blinked. “So you regret leaving?”
